Arete Zero Carbon and iiCON join panel of experts helping businesses grow in KQ Liverpool
Introducing the newest KQ Grow Expert Advisors – iiCON and Arete Zero Carbon
KQ Grow is a bespoke business support package which is helping companies based in the Knowledge Quarter Liverpool (KQ Liverpool) Innovation District to grow, scale-up and expand their businesses.
From marketing support, to legal advice, KQ Grow offers a range of free support to companies from a host of Expert Advisors. Since its launch in late September last year, fifteen business referrals have been made via the programme.
Given the programme’s success to date and recognising changing business needs in the post-COVID landscape, the KQ Grow programme has undergone a refresh and has welcomed new Expert Advisors on board.
The Infection Innovation Consortium (iiCON) is the first of KQ Grow’s new panellists.
iiCON is a leading global centre for infectious disease R&D which brings together industry, academia and the NHS in a collaborative environment to accelerate the discovery and development of new treatments, diagnostics, and preventative products for infectious diseases.
Through iiCON’s Merseyside SME Support Programme, eligible SMEs have access to support to help overcome market barriers by providing access to world-leading research expertise and outstanding R&D facilities at Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and the University of Liverpool.
In addition to this, eligible companies also have access to a minimum of 12 hours bespoke no-cost R&D support via iiCON’s European Development Fund (ERDF) funded programme. iiCON works across a variety of sectors, providing support across three specialist platforms: Diagnostic Evaluation, Surface Analysis, and Antimicrobial Testing.
Dr Lisa Baldwin, Senior Business Development Manager from iiCON, said:
“iiCON has already had a huge impact on the Liverpool City Region in terms of attracting significant investment, creating jobs and driving business growth. Since launching 18 months ago, the products we’ve helped to fast-track to patients and populations worldwide via our specialist platforms are already having a real impact and helping to save lives globally.
“By joining KQ Grow, we can ensure that the businesses located across KQ Liverpool operating in this sector can take advantage of the supportive programmes available to them, which they might not know are on offer. Enabling such collaboration and growth is one of the reasons why the Liverpool City Region is at the forefront of innovation and R&D.”
Also joining the programme is net zero expert Arete Zero Carbon.
With the UK required to reach Net Zero Carbon by 2050, or sooner, Arete Zero Carbon is helping organisations to develop their strategies to help them achieve net zero carbon.
Working with some of the world’s largest brands such as KFC to micro-SMEs, Arete Zero Carbon is a niche consultancy based in Liverpool which is helping to tackle one of the world’s greatest challenges.
As part of KQ Grow, Arete Zero Carbon will offer businesses the opportunity to attend a dedicated drop-in session exploring how businesses can reach net zero using their impressive development of KFC’s net zero strategy as a case study.
Dr Stephen Finnegan, Managing Director of Arete Zero Carbon and Director of the University of Liverpool’s Zero Carbon Research Initiative (ZCRI), said:
“Our partnership with KQ Liverpool on KQ Grow represents our commitment to help businesses – big and small – reach net zero carbon. Through our dedicated drop-in session we aim to give KQ Liverpool-based businesses the foundations for their journey to achieve net zero carbon.”
KQ Liverpool Policy and Marketing Manager, Rachael Patterson, said:
“Growing local businesses is a key part of the KQ Liverpool 2025 Vision. We’re delighted to welcome our new KQ Grow Expert Advisors to the programme, widening the scope of support on offer to KQ Liverpool-based companies.”
iiCON and Arete Zero Carbon join the existing panel of experts who offer support covering the fields of finance, talent, law, marketing and business, including Agent Academy, Barclays, Growth Platform, Liverpool John Moores University, Professional Liverpool, RSM, Taylor Wessing, University of Liverpool and USP Creative.
If you want to find out more about the KQ Grow programme and how it might benefit your business, read the new brochure here or contact emily@sciontec.co.uk.
